Electric combination switch



July 22, 1958 L.. GORAL ELECTRIC COMBINATION SWITCH Filed Aug. 8, 1955 fC? I W W @f INVENTOR L Ew/'s I G ORAL BY Z 27 A Tram/U ELECTRICCOMBINATION SWITCH Lewis Goral, Berkley, Mich.

Application August 8, 1955, Serial No. 527,019

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-43) This invention relates to an electric combinationswitch, and, more particularly, to a device of this class Which isespecially adapted for use in lock structures generally.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a combinationdevice for operating electro-magnetic locks, and which is adaptable foruse on an automobile, on safes, on business machines, on house doors,and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combinationmechanism for operating electro-magnetic locks in which the .combinationmay readily be changed.

-It is still another object of this invention to provide an electriccombination device which is relatively simple and compactv inconstruction, economical of manufacture, highly efhcient in operation,and which may be manually operated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an electriccombination device for operating electro-magnetic locks which is formedwith dials that may be readily added or subtracted, to increase ordecrease the number of combinations available.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an electriccombination device for operating electro-magnetic locks which comprisesa plurality of rotatable dials which are -set relative to one another bycounting the number of clicks which occur when the dials are moved.

-It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of thisclass which comprises a .plurality of dials which are rotatably mountedon a shaft between two stationary dials, with said dials having aconductor therethrough which complete a circuit to actuate a solenoidwhen the conductors are aligned according to the combination ofmovements of the dials from a predetermined starting point.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following detailed description and -appended claims,reference being had to the accomp'anying drawings forming a part of thespecifications wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts of the several views.

`In the drawings:

'Fig 1 is a front elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the structureillustrated in Fig. l, taken along the line -2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of the structureillustrated in Fig. 2, taken along the line 3-3 thereof; and,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of the structureillustrated in Fig. 2, taken along the line 4 4 thereof.

`Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of `construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and Patent O .p ICC .minology employed herein is for thepurpose of description and not limitation.

In the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown whichcomprises a front supporting plate 10 and a back supporting plate 12which is spaced apart from the front plate. The plates 10 and 12 arefixedly secured together by suitable bracing members 14 `which aresecured to the plates by suitable fastening means, as by the screws 16.The back plate 12 is provided with an upper forwardly extendingsupporting structure 18, and a lower forwardly extending `supportingstructure or arm 20 which `are spaced apart and are provided with flangeportions 22 and 24, respectively, and metal screws 26 and 28 for holdingsaid supporting Astructures on the plate 12.

The forward ends of the arms 18 and 20 are provided with suitableapertures 30 and 32, respectively, through which is mounted a verticallydisposed shaft 34 which is held securely in place by means of the nuts36 and 38. The shaft 34 is adapted to have mounted thereon, between thearms 18 and 20, an upper and lower stationary rotor 40 and 42,respectively, and, a plurality of rotatable rotors 44, 46, and 48. Therotors 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 are made from any suitable dielectricmaterial. The stationary rotors 4t) and 42 are held in yplace againstthe arms 18 and 2t) by means of the projections 50 and S2 which areadapted to engage vsuitable apertures in the outer faces of said rotorsto prevent rotation thereof. The aforesaid rotors are interlocked witheach other by having one adjacent rotor provided with a depression as 54in which the other adjacent rotors projection or hub 56 is adapted toseat and rotate.

The rotatable rotors 44, 46 `and 48, are provided with rings or dials58, 60 and 612, respectively, which are suitably tixed on said rotors,as by a press lit. As shown in Fig. 2, the front plate 10 is providedwith a plurality of horizontal slots as 64 through which the dialsprotrude. The edges of the dials 58, 60 and 62 may be knurled orroughened to provide for easier rotation thereof. The upper faces of therotors 42, 44, 46 and 48 are provided with a plurality of circularlydisposed depressions or notches 6'6 `which are adapted to be operativelyengaged by a detent or spring biased contact metal ball 68 `which isnested in a groove 70 in the rotor immediately above. A spring 72 ismounted in each groove 78 and is adapted to bias :the ball 68 into areleasable engagement with the notches 66. lOne end of the springs 72,is connected to a conductor 74 which passes completely through the ro-One of the notches 66 is provided with a metal contact 76 which isconnected to the conductor elements 74, in the rotors 42, 44, 46 and 48.

The conductors 74 in the stationary rotors 40 and 42 are connected tosuitable conductor lines 73 and Sti, with the conductor line 80 beingadapted to be connected to a `suitable power source 82, and with theconductor 78 being connected to a switch movable part 80. As shown inIFig. 2, the front plate -10 is provided with an aperture 84 throughwhich is mounted a push button '86. A U-shaped 'bracket 88 is mounted onthe rear side of the plate 10 by the screws 90, and is adapted to havemounted between it and the plate 10 a spring 92 adapted to bias the pushbutton 86 normally outwardly. The push button 86 is provided with anextension of a non-conducting material, as 94, which is mounted to beengageable with the movable switch part 80. The 'stationary switch part96, ywhich is the mating part for switch part 80', is suitably connectedto a solenoid 98 `and thence by the -conductor 100 to the source ofpower4 82.

Fixedly mounted on the front side of the rear plate 12 are a number offorwardly extending arms 102, 104- and 106 which have their forward endsdisposed beneath the dials 58, 60 and 62, respectively, and which areheld on the plate 1,2 by any suitable means, as by the screws 108. Therotors 44, 46 and 48 lare each provided with a plurality of outwardlyextending projections 110, 112 and 114, respectively, which are disposedon the periphery of said rotors, and which are adapted to abut the arms102, 104 and 106. The arms 102, 104 and 106 are preferably formed from asuitable eXible material, as spring metal, and are adapted to engage theprojections 110, 112 and 114, when the rotors are turned, and ride oversaid projections, causing an audible click or snap when such actionoccurs. and 114 are disposed intermediate the depressions or notches 66,and, the arms 102, 104 and 106 are aligned with each other. Theprojections 110, 112 and 114 may be integrally formed with the rotors44, 46 and 48, respectively, or, they may be formed separately andembedded in said rotors by any suitable means.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a stop mechanism is disposed on the frontplate 10, adjacent each of the rotors 44, 46 and 48. Each of these stopmechanisms comprises a pair of spaced apart arms 116 which are ixed onthe front wall by any suitable means, as by welding. A pivot pin 118 ismounted in said arms 116 and pivotaliy mounted on said pin is anL-shaped member having the arms 120 and 122. The arm 120 is adapted toabut the front wall 110, and, the arm 122 is adapted to operativelyengage a stop member, as 124, 126 and 128, on the rotors 44, 46 and 48,respectively. The stop members 124, 126 and 128 are disposed on theirrespective rotors at different positions relative to the conductors 74,and, they may be formed integral with the rotors, or, they may be formedseparately and be embedded in said rotors by any suitable means.

As aforementioned, the stationary rotors 40 and 42 are held stationaryrelative to the arms 18 and 20, respectively, by means of theprojections 50 and 52. However, the rotors 40 and 42 may be furthersecured to the arms 18 and 20, by means of suitable screws, as thescrews 130 and 132.

In use, the illustrative embodiment may be mounted on a house door, on abusiness machine, an automobile, and other like uses for operating anelectro-magnetic lock. The front wall 10 and the back wall 12 would besuitably mounted on the object which is to beprotected by the presentdevice. If the electric combination The projections 110, 112

device were mounted on a house door for operating an electro-magneticlock, the front plate 10 would be mounted in the plane of the outersurface of the door, and, an operator would be presented with the viewshown in Fig. l. The numeral 134 indicates a bolt of a lock for thedoor, with the bolt being adapted to be actuated into the locked andunlocked position by a solenoid 98 which operates in the usual manner.In order to actuate the solenoid 98, the control circuit must rst becompleted by rotating the rotors 44, 46 and 48 into a predeterminedposition so as to align the conductors 74 in each of said rotors withthe rest of the solenoid circuit.

The alignment of the rotors would be accomplished as follows. As viewedin Fig. l, the dials 58, 60 and 62 would be rotated to the left untilthe stop projections 124, 126 and 128 engaged the arms 122 of theirrespective stop mechanisms on the front plate 10. As shown in Fig. 4,the numeral 136 indicates the position that the stop projection 124would assume when this occurs, and, the other stop projections 124 and126 would also assume a similar position. It will be seen, that when thestop projections 124, 126 and 128 abut the stop mechanism arms 122, theintegral arms 120 will be rotated into engagement with the front wall 10and the dials 58, 60 and 62 will be stopped. It will also be seen thatif the dials 58, 60, and 62 are then rotated to the right, as viewed inFig. l, or, counterclockwise as viewed in Fig.

4, that the stop projections 124, 126 and 128 will merely ride over thearms 122, since the entire L-shaped stop members will pivot around thepivot pins 118, thus permitting the rotors to be moved indenitely to theright, as viewed in Fig. 1, but limiting the movement of the rotors tothe left.

With the dials 58, 60 and 62 moved to the extreme left, as viewed inFig. l, and as aforementioned, the conductors 74 in the rotors 44, 46and 48 will not be aligned, since they will be disposed on relativelydifferent positions on these rotors. If the stop projections 124, 126and 128 are disposed relative to the conductors 74 in the rotors 44, 46and 48, so as to stop the rotors a certain number of notches 66 out ofalignment with the stationary rotors 40 and 42, then the number ofnotches 66 that the rotors 44, 46 and 48 have to be moved to align theconductors 74 in all the rotors, both stationary and rotary, will be thecombination for that setting of the rotors. For example, if thecombination for the switch is number 538, then the rotor 44 will beturned to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, 5 notches measured by thenumber of clicks caused by the arm 102 riding over tive of theprojections 110. The turning ot rotor 44 for five clicks to the right,as described, will align the conductor 74 in rotor 44 with the conductor74 in the stationary rotor 40. The rotor 46 would then be moved threeclicks to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, and, this action would alignthe conductor 74 in this rotor with the rotors 40 and 44. Similarly,rotor 48 would be moved eight clicks to the right, as viewed in Fig. l,and, this action would align the conductor 74 in this rotor with therotors 40, 44, 46 and 42.

When the conductors 74 in all the rotors have been aligned in accordancewith the combination, or number of predetermined clicks, the push button86 is pushed inwardly by the operator. The extended part 94 on therearward end of the push button 86 contacts the movable switch part andmoves it into operable engagement with the stationary switch part 96.This action completes the circuit from the power source 82, throughconductor line 80, conductors 74, conductor 78, switch parts 80 and 96,and thence back to the power source 82 by the conductor 100. Thecompleted circuit operates the solenoid 98 which in turn moves the bolt134 in the desired manner. It will be understood, that the conductors 74in each of the rotors 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 are electrically connectedby the spring members 72, the detent balls 68 and the conductor sockets70.

It will be seen, that the combination of clicksl may be changed, asdesired, by shifting the stationary rotors 40 and 42 relative to therotary rotors, or, by changing the location of the stop projections 124,126 and 128 on the rotary rotors 44, 46 and 48.

It will be seen, that the present invention provides a novel electriccombination switch adapted for operating a lock which is adapted to beoperated by counting the number of clicks the dials make when they areturned, and, which is adapted to be operated in the dark without thebenet of any light.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed is Well calculated tor fulll the objects above stated,it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modication,variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fairmeaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switch of the class described: a front wall; a back wall spacedapart from said front wall; means securing said walls together; a pairof arms mounted on said back wall and extending forwardly therefromtoward said front wall; a shaft mounted between said arms; a first rotormounted on said shaft adjacent one of said arms; a second rotor mountedon said shaft adjacent the other of said arms; means for releasablytixing said rst and second rotors on the adjacent arm; a conductormounted in each of said first and second rotors; circuit meansconnecting the conductors in said first and second rotors to a powersource and to a device to be controlled by said switch; a plurality ofrotatable rotors mounted on said shaft between said rst and secondrotors; a conductor in each of said rotatable rotors; each ,of saidrotatable rotors being made from a dielectric material and beingprovided with a dial adapted to extend through said front wall; meansfor limiting the rotation 0f said rotatable rotors in one direction;and, means for aligning the conductors in said rotatable rotors with theconductors in said rst and second rotors, when said rotatable rotors areturned in the other direction, whereby the circuit for operating thesolenoid will be completed.

2. The invention as set forth in claim l, wherein: said means foraligning the conductors in said rotatable rotors with the conductors insaid first and second rotors comprises, a plurality of annularlydisposed notches on the upper faces of said rotatable rotors and saidsecond-rotor; one of the notches in said upper faces of said rotatablerotors and said second rotor having a metal element therein which isconnected to the upper end of the conductor in said rotors; aresiliently biased conductive element mounted in the lower face of saidrst rotor and said rotatable rotors, which is connected to the conductorin said first rotor and rotatable rotors and adapted to releasablyengage the notches on the upper faces of said rotatable rotors and saidsecond rotor; and means for arranging the resiliently biased conductiveelements in engagement with the metal elements in said notches to alignthe conductors in said rotors for completing the circuit for thesolenoid.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said means forarranging the resiliently biased conductive elements comprises: aplurality of outwardly extending projections on each of said rotatablerotors which are disposed between the notches on each rotor; and, an armfor each rotor adapted to be engaged by said projections and beingcapable of riding over said projections and making a clicking noiseduring such action.

4. In a switch of the class described, a supporting structure; a shaftcarried by said supporting structure; a firstadjustable stationary rotormounted on one end of said shaft, and, a second adjustable stationaryrotor mounted on the other end of said shaft; a plurality of rotatablerotors mounted on said shaft between said stationary rotors; a conductorin each of said rotors; a dial carried on each of said rotatable rotorsfor manual rotation thereof; said rotors being made fromv a dielectricmaterial; a circuit means connected to `said stationary rotor conductorsfor connecting the conductors in the rotors to a device to be controlledby said switch; means for connecting the conductors in said rotatablerotors with the conductors in said stationary rotors for completing saidcircuit means when the rotatable rotors are turned to a predeterminedsetting; and, means for cre ating an audible signalwhen the rotatablerotors are moved, whereby the operator may adjust the rotatable rotorsto said predetermined setting.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said means forconnecting the conductors in said rotatable rotors with the conductorsin said stationary rotors comprises a detent means in each of saidrotatable rotors and a detent means in said rst stationary rotor.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said means forcreating an audible signal comprises a plurality of outwardly extendingprojections on the periphery of each of said rotatable rotors; and, ailexible arm mounted adjacent each of said rotatable rotors which isadapted to engage and ride over said projections successively, therebycreating a clicking signal, whereby the number of clicks may be countedand serve to position said rotatable rotors in said predeterminedsetting.

7. In a switch of the class described, a supporting structure; a shaftcarried by said supporting structure; a rst stationary rotor mounted onone end of said shaft, and, a second stationary rotor mounted on theother end of said shaft; a plurality of rotatable rotors mounted on saidshaft'between said stationary rotors; a conductor in each of saidrotors; a dial carried on each of said rotatable rotors for manualrotation thereof; said rotors being made from a dielectric material; acircuit means connected to said stationary rotor conductors forconnecting the conductors in the rotors to a device to be controlled bysaid switch; means for connecting the conductors in said rotatablerotors with the conductors in said stationary rotors for completing saidcircuit means when the rotatable rotors are turned to a predeterminedsetting; means for creating an audible signal when the rotatable rotorsare moved, whereby the operator may adjust the rotatable rotors to saidpredetermined setting; said means for creating an audible signalcomprising a plurality of outwardly extending projections on theperiphery `ofeach of said rotatable rotors, and a exible arm mountedadjacent each of said rotatable rotors which is adapted to engage andride over said projections successively, thereby creating a clickingsignal, whereby the number of clicks may be counted and serve toposition said rotatable rotors in said predetermined setting; and, astop means to limit the rotation of said rotatable rotors in onedirection but not in the other direction to provide a starting positionto which the rotatable rotors may first be moved and from which positionthe number of clicks are counted for setting the rotatable rotors tocomplete a circuit therethrough.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,555,969 Hatch Oct. 6, 1925 1,593,541 Rundin July 20, 1926 1,670,448Hanna May 22, 1928 1,712,563 Jones May 14, 1929 1,743,357 Kita Ian. 14,1930 2,452,747 Gomez Nov. 2, 1948

